Car accident victims can suffer many different types of physical injuries, from broken bones or fractures to more serious injuries affecting the brain or spinal cord.
Along with physical harm, victims can also suffer from emotional trauma, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), that can significantly impact their daily lives and relationships with loved ones.
The Windsor car accident lawyers at our firm discuss the ways PTSD can result from stressful situations such as car accidents and how you may be able to pursue compensation for the emotional trauma you have experienced. An initial consultation with a member of our legal team is free with no obligation involved.
The Effects of Post-Traumatic Stress
PTSD is a mental health condition that can happen due to a traumatic or stressful event such as a serious car accident and can often have a significant impact on the lives of accident victims suffering from this condition. Certain factors for victims that may increase the risk of developing PTSD include:
- The crash itself was especially severe
- The victim was seriously or catastrophically injured
- The victim feels his or her life was in danger during the crash
- The victim has previous traumatic or stressful experiences
- The victim has a history of mental illness
Victims who develop symptoms of PTSD after car accidents may need extensive therapy to help address these issues and maintain their mental health. Treatment could take years and may include seeing a psychologist and getting on medications to combat anxiety, depression, or social withdrawal.
If a victim with PTSD ignores his or symptoms or does not seek treatment, this can lead to more serious issues, such as worsening depression, alcohol or drug dependency, or suicidal thoughts.
Symptoms of PTSD After a Car Accident
Some symptoms of PTSD that victims may suffer from following a car accident may include:
- General uneasiness, anxiety and fear – The victim has uncontrollable negative thoughts that threaten to overwhelm him or her and often cannot go away without treatment.
- Feeling irritable, excessively worrying, or getting angry – An accident victim is unable to relax because his or her body is on constant alert for danger, which can drain his or her energy.
- Difficulty sleeping and restlessness – Many accident victims may have trouble sleeping and nightmares, which can lead to exhaustion and wreak havoc on their mental state.
- Reliving the crash and thinking about it often – The victim is reminded of the accident when driving or getting into a car or being around moving vehicles that causes feelings of distress.
Many of these PTSD symptoms can start in the hours or days after a car accident but may not manifest for months or even years. This is why it is important to seek medical treatment and then retain the services of a legal professional who could help you obtain the compensation you need for your damages.
PTSD Car Accident Compensation Claims
When you work with a lawyer, he or she will address the damages that you have suffered in the crash. You want to make sure that your physical injuries as well as the emotional trauma you have experienced are taken into consideration when filing a car accident claim.
To pursue compensation for PTSD, you and your lawyer need to provide supportive evidence, such as medical bills and receipts of psychological treatment and other forms of therapy you have undergone. You also need to show how suffering from PTSD has affected your ability to work and earn a living.
Keeping a journal detailing this information and how it also impacts your quality of life could help strengthen your claim for compensation because insurers will find it harder to dispute the condition.
Although the type and amount of damages will vary depending on your situation, you may be eligible to pursue compensation to help cover:
- Medical expenses
- Mental health counseling
- Costs of medication
- Lost income
- Mental anguish
- Lost enjoyment of life
Reach Out to One of Our Lawyers
If you have been injured in a car accident, do not hesitate to contact our legal team at Greg Monforton & Partners for help. We know how to build a strong case as we have been helping many clients pursue maximum compensation for their damages over the years.
Request a risk-free consultation to get started with no obligation to hire our firm. Should you have a valid claim and decide to move forward, you pay us nothing unless we help you obtain compensation.
Learn more about your legal options by calling (866) 320-4770.